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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I hope you guys aren't getting tired of these virtual parties, because we have another fun one today! My friend Kelsey is getting married in less than two weeks, and we are all so happy for her. She is one of the sweetest, kindest, and most genuine people I know, so to hear how much joy and love she has in her life is so heart-warming. I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about the big day - she is going to be such a beautiful bride!

Now on to my dish! I wanted to contribute a dessert, but I was indecisive and had several ideas floating around. So I settled in with some of my favorite cookbooks and websites, and I found these cinnamon crescents. I knew I wanted to make these as soon as I saw them. I love serving bite-sized food at parties and showers, and I love the cinnamon-sugar combo.

Oftentimes it seems like yeasted baked goods are more work, but this one was so easy and low-maintenance. The dough is mixed the night before, then left to rise overnight in the refrigerator. It is then rolled out in cinnamon-sugar, cut into triangles, stuffed with booze-soaked golden-raisins and rolled into crescents.

These little treats are reminiscent of churros, but without the deep-fried guilt. The outside is sweet and crispy, and the inside is soft and chewy. The raisins add a nice burst of sweetness, and the orange zest combined with Grand Marnier contribute a nice fresh flavor as well.

Melt the butter and cool for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, dissolve the yeast and sugar in 1/4 cup warm water (if it doesn't bubble or increase in volume, the yeast is dead. Open a new package).

Place 2 cups of the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Into the well, pour the beaten eggs, yeast mixture, and melted butter. Mix together with a wooden spoon. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, orange zest, and salt, and mix thoroughly to form a soft, smooth dough. Gently pat it into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

In a small bowl, toss the raisins with the orange liqueur, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or spray with cooking spray. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 4 equal portions. Dust a work surface liberally with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Knead the dough briefly in the cinnamon-sugar, then roll out into a 1/4-inch thick circle, flipping the dough after each stroke with the rolling pin, and rotating the dough 90 degrees between each stroke as well. Add more cinnamon-sugar to the work surface as needed.

Cut the circle into 8 equal triangles (as you would cut a pizza). Sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon-sugar on each triangle and scoop 1 teaspoon of the raisins onto the wide end of each triangle. Roll up the dough, starting with the wide end. Place the crescents on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough. Bake until they are lightly golden-brown, 15-20 minutes.

Josie, these are just so perfect! My family has a big joke about churros, which comes from the first trip M took with my family down to Mexico. My stepdad had a few too many margaritas one night and kept insisting we go get "churrismos". Classic. I can't wait to make these "churrismo" type treats in my own kitchen. I mean, churro flavor PLUS Grand Marnier? YES PLEASE!

Thank you so much for contributing to my shower and for all the sweet things you said about me. You're a great friend and you've made me feel so loved and so special today!

These sound amazingly good to me right now. I wish I didn't have so darned much baking already lined up this weekend or I would totally make them. Cinnamon sugar donuts are my favorite kind, but I rarely eat them. This is a good compromise!

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